Course content

To be able to communicate every where and at all times it is necessary with a flexible and cost effective communications solutions. This is offered by radio systems. In the course you will design, implement and test a radio communication system for the ISM band. The system runs on the radio platform Universal Soft Radio Peripheral 2 and is programmed using GNU Radio.
The course takes it starting point in that which makes radio different form other types of communications systems: the propagation medium between sender and transmitter, i.e. the radio channel.
The course describes what aspects of the channel that are important for different types of radio systems. It covers basic radio propagation, characterization of radio channels, noise and antenna properties. Here the link budget is central: How much of the transmitted power is received, how much noise is it and which system parameters does it depend on? Different modulation formats and error correction coding makes it possible to exploit the radio channel, with a given link budget, with different data rates and bit error probabilities. Trade-offs between bandwidth, transmit power, demands on bit rate and error probability and complexity are central. To share the radio resource between multiple users multiple access is used. CDMA and TDMA are multiple access schemes used in 3G and GSM respectively. Here basic traffic theory is relevant.
The course describes the structure of four types of radio systems: broadcasting, wireless LAN, fixed radio links, mobile communications. The emphasis is on digital radio communications and the lowest layers, PHY and MAC, of the OSI-model. Technical specifications of communication systems as well as regulations and standards will also be covered.

Learning outcome

The course gives an introduction in radio technology with importance for communication systems based on the use of radio waves. It gives practical experience in building a radio system.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and project work.

Recommended previous knowledge

Based on the third year of the program Electronics, or equivalent. The courses TMA4120/35 Calculus 4K/4D and TMA4245 Statistics, or equivalent. TTT4200 Radio Systems, Introduction.
It is an big advantage to have taken TTT4115 Communication Theory.

Course materials

The course material is announced at the first lecture.

Credit reductions